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Dale Earnhardt Jr.: MWR, Bowyer got off pretty easy

Dale Earnhardt Jr. said it was "impressive" how easily fans and media were able to figure out what teams like Michael Waltrip Racing — and possibly Front Row Motorsports — were doing to manipulate Saturday night's Richmond race.

NASCAR's most popular driver said it was "impressive" how easily fans and media were able to figure out what teams like Michael Waltrip Racing — and possibly Front Row Motorsports — were doing to manipulate Saturday night's Richmond race.

MWR was fined $300,000 and and each of its three drivers were penalized 50 points after NASCAR said it fixed the outcome of the final regular season race, which sets NASCAR's playoff field.

"I think those spotters and crew chiefs and some drivers don't realize in the heat of the moment how accessible all this information is," Earnhardt said Thursday during Chase Media Day in Chicago. "No matter how much you think you can camouflage this — (all) smoke and mirrors — the media or fans can connect the dots."

Earnhardt, a self-described "NASCAR fan boy," said he was sad to see the sport's image take a hit and talked at length about the fallout from Richmond.

Earnhardt said he read about the penalties and thought, "What the hell?" when he realized Bowyer's points deduction did not affect his Chase standing. The 50-point penalty was only applied to Bowyer's points total before it was reset for the playoffs.

"I need to sit down and really think of why (NASCAR) chose to do it that way and see the logic behind it," Earnhardt said.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. and girlfriend Amy Reimann attend the NASCAR Evening Series at Charlie Palmer Steak, part of the Champion's Week events that mark the end of the season.
Chris Graythen, Getty Images for NASCAR

Champion's Week in Las Vegas allows drivers to enjoy lighter moments and interact with fans. Earnhardt and Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jeff Gordon did just that at After the Lap.
Jeff Bottari, Getty Images for NASCAR

Earnhardt spoke to students at Piper High School in Kansas City, Kan., one of five speaking engagements organized by sponsor National Guard this season. It's also another sign of change for the introverted star. "If it were up to me, I wouldn’t have OK’d this last year. I’d be like, ‘Are you crazy? I ain’t talking to all them kids,’ " he said.
Mike Barrett, National Guard

Earnhardt announced Oct. 11 he would sit out the next two races while he recovered from his second concussion in a six-week span. He admitted he raced at less than peak mental acuity, hoping his reflexes would hold up against dangerous conditions while driving nearly 200 mph.
Chris Graythen, Getty Images

Shown here celebrating with then-crew chief Tony Eury Jr. in 2008, Earnhardt parted ways with his cousin professionally this year, reshaping JR Motorsports. Eury had served as Danica Patrick's Nationwide crew chief since she joined the circuit in 2010.
John Raoux, AP

Earnhardt made the Chase for the Sprint Cup for the fifth time this season. His best points finish since NASCAR went to the Chase format in 2004 is fifth -- in 2004 and 2006.
Tyler Barrick, Getty Images

Redskins owner Dan Snyder walks with Earnhardt before a preseason game with the Buccaneers on Aug. 29. Earnhardt had crashed during a tire test session in Kansas the same day, suffering the first of two concussions.
Nick Wass, AP

The driver of the No. 88 Chevrolet took over the Sprint Cup points lead July 29 after finishing fourth at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. It marked the first time Earnhardt had led the points in nearly eight years.
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Many people in the sport thought the breakthrough was the beginning of a second-half season resurgence. Earnhardt said he thought the win 'would be all relief, but it wasn't relief at all. It was all excitement.'
Jared C. Tilton, Getty Images

In addition to bringing a trophy to Hendrick Motorsports with his first win in four years, Earnhardt got to ring the 'victory bell.' "I'm going to ring that damn thing as hard as I can," he said. "... I like seeing the smiles on everybody else's face. It's so awesome to see how many other people it affects. It feels good to be able to bring those guys what they deserve."
Davis Turner for USA TODAY Sports

Steve Letarte, left, became Earnhardt's crew chief at the beginning of the 2011 season. When they won, Letarte said: "... We are not crazy. What we have been trying to do has been working."
Brian Czobat, AP

Earnhardt first stepped out with girlfriend Amy Reimann at the 2011 NASCAR awards ceremony. He also brought her to the White House in April -- when President Obama honored Sprint Cup champion Tony Stewart -- and kissed her in victory lane at Michigan.
Mark Wilson, Getty Images

For Earnhardt, 38, this season has been about personal growth. "I was just really nervous about what people’s perceptions would be, so I held a
lot of stuff in and just kept a lot of stuff private for a long time," he said.
Daniel Shirey, US Presswire

Earnhardt said he not only felt bad for NASCAR officials having to make a tough decision, but felt for friend Martin Truex Jr., who was bumped from the Chase as a result of the penalties, and teammate Jeff Gordon, who missed the Chase after Bowyer spun.

Earnhardt even felt sympathy for Bowyer, he said, because "I know what kind of person he is."

"I feel bad for him because he is part of something that is not a good reflection of his personality," he said.

Past incidents — like when Paul Menard spun at Richmond and Bowyer spun at Bristol last season — led Earnhardt to believe NASCAR would not act this time. He was surprised at the major reaction both inside and outside the sport.

"It's not new," he said. "It's not like, 'Oh my God, what's happening to the sport? The sky is falling.' I didn't think it was that big a deal because it's been done before."

Like other drivers, Earnhardt called for NASCAR to step up its officiating in situations like Richmond. Even though NASCAR officials have said they want to leave rules in the drivers' hands — such as when drivers control the restarts — Earnhardt said the concept is "probably not very smart."

"We're going to try to work in that gray area," he said. "NASCAR's job is to patch those gray areas up and make them black and white, and we'll find the next gray area. We'll keep doing it and doing it, and that's the way it's going to go."